What other symptoms or conditions are associated with NF1?

Many children with NF1 have larger than normal head circumference and are shorter than average.    Hydrocephalus, the abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain, is a possible complication of the disorder.  Headache and epilepsy are also more likely in individuals with NF1 than in the normal population.  Cardiovascular complications are associated with NF1, including congenital heart defects, high blood pressure (hypertension), and constricted, blocked, or damaged blood vessels (vasculopathy).  Children with NF1 may have poor linguistic and visual-spatial skills, and perform less well on academic achievement tests, including those that measure reading, spelling, and math skills.  Learning disabilities, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), are common in children with NF1.

When do symptoms appear?

Symptoms, particularly the most common skin abnormalities -- café-au-lait spots, neurofibromas, Lisch nodules, and freckling in the armpit and groin   -- are often evident at birth or shortly afterwards, and almost always by the time a child is 10 years old.    Because many features of these disorders are age dependent, a definitive diagnosis may take several years.